Christmas Cakes

Creating this chocolate snowman cake is fun for the whole family. My daughters enjoyed watching the snowman's personality emerge as we decorated him with candy and fruit leather.

Homemade chocolate ice cream is special enough, but as a filling in this lush, nutty pie it's superb. Don't be daunted by notions of old-fashioned ice cream-churning -- this scrumptious mix chills right in the shell.

This is a dense, buttery cake dotted with sweet-tart plums that have gone silky in the oven. It takes just a few minutes to get it into the oven, and comfortably knife-wielding kids might like to help by halving the plums and tugging out their pits.

These taste just like chocolate cupcakes! Like good chocolate cupcakes! They're super-chocolatey and almost obscenely moist--like the cake mix with the pudding in it, in a good way. Plus, it's a great way to use up a glut of squash!

Adding raspberry puree to the mascarpone layers makes for a scrumptious twist on an old favorite.

This cake is quaint and old-fashioned and perfect with a side of fruit.

Flavorful fruit-cancy ribbons are wrapped all over this delicious gift cake that's perfect for birthdays or to serve during the holidays.

This gingerbread, a classic holiday dessert, has a lighter texture than most due to a touch of sour cream in the batter.

This is an easy and elegant cake that's sure to become a classic at your annual Christmas party or dinner.

For a 'twist' on traditional pumpkin pie, try this delicious spiral cake. Though it looks impressive, it's actually super simple to make. Bring it with you to a harvest party or holiday gathering and let the good times roll!